I flew through the water behind the boat, maintaining a safe distance between myself and the rudder, thoughts of her racing through my mind.
I'm coming for you, Barracuda.
THIRTEEN
DELILAH
Daleand my father had been drinking, quickly spiraling into an alcoholic binge, the two of them singing terribly as the boat idled. I remained curled up in the corner of the cabin, my face throbbing, the bleeding from my nose having finally stopped. There had been no sign of Reef, or any other sharks for that matter. I just wanted the night to end. I wanted to go home.
“Hey, Chief,” Dale slurred. “You ever notice how red your daughter’s lips are?” I glared at him. “I mean she always wears this perfect shade of red. I bet the color stains real bad too.”
My father groaned, his head resting on his hand. “I don’t want to talk about that stuff.”
“Alright.” Dale threw his hands up. “I just find it interesting how all these murders only started once she came back to town.” My father’s brow furrowed. “Say, didn’t you go to school on the West Coast?”
My dad shot to his feet, finally connecting all the dots. “That’s not possible.” I stared at him, wide eyed and fearful, as he rushed to me.Shit. He grabbed my arms, yanking me to my feet, shaking my body. “Delilah Marie Bailey, you tell me the truth right now!” I cried out as he squeezed me tight, hurting me. “Areyou the Angel of Death?” His eyes trembled, the rank stench of alcohol soaking his breath. “Answer me!”
Just then, the boat rocked violently.Reef. I fell from my father’s arms as he and Dale rushed to the deck. I crawled on my hands and knees, holding the cabin door open as I watched Reef circle the fishing boat. I smiled viciously—he came back for me.
“How did it find us?” my dad yelled.
Dale glanced back, catching my eyes as I dropped my happiness and swallowed. “It’s her.” I held Reef’s tooth in my hand as Dale ran at me, dragging me onto the deck. I kicked and yelled, trying to get away, but there was no use.
“Her?”
Dale tossed me down, pulling out a fishing knife and pointing it towards me as I groaned. “Think about it, Chief. The shark didn’t appear until your daughter magically did, and now it’s back? There’s something going on between those two. I can feel it.”I swear to God, I’m going to kill you, Dale.
“What are you suggesting?” my father asked.
Dale grabbed my neck as I sat up, the blade inches from my eye. “I say we use her as bait.”
My father remained quiet for a minute, lowering his head. “Do what you need to do.”
Dale laughed, sticking his tongue out. “Looks like you’re going for a swim.” He released me, stepping away for a moment to grab something.
“No. No!” I tried to crawl away, begging my dad as tears fell from my eyes. “Please, Dad. Please! Don’t let him do this. Please!”
My father raised his hand, silencing me. “You dug your grave. Now it’s time you lie in it.” He walked away, stepping into the cabin, leaving me along with Dale.
“I hate you!” I screamed as Dale began to wrap a large rope around my body. I kicked and scratched at him, my nails cuttinghis face, but he fought back, restraining me. “I hate you!” I screamed again as he hooked the rope to something, forcing me to my knees. “Fuck you!” I shrieked.
Dale tugged at the end of the line as a crane lifted me, my hands bound behind my back. He dallied towards me, retrieving a bandana from his pocket. “Let's see how well you can survive without that pretty little mouth of yours.” He balled the material up and squeezed my face, forcing it into my mouth and nearly gagging me.
“Oh, I almost forgot!” Dale took his knife out and bent down. His fingers curled around my thigh, touching the blade to my skin as he took his time, cutting me. “Can’t hunt a shark without a little blood.” He grabbed the rope, pulling me to the back of the boat, stepping away as he began to twist a crank.
The crane lifted me off my feet, my body dangling about two feet above the deck. I tried to scream, but the bandana muffled me. Dale grabbed my ankle and positioned me over the water, grinning with excitement. “You ready for another one of your late-night swims?” he asked, approaching the crank again. I shook my head, crying, blood dripping down my leg. “Too bad!”
As he punched a button above the crank, the rope immediately loosened. I screamed through the bandana as my body crashed into the water and quickly began to sink. The sound of something hitting the surface caught my attention as I glanced up to see Dale chumming the water. I furrowed my brows and growled, bubbles forming around my mouth. My thigh burned from the salt water as my blood clouded the dark water around me.
I glanced around, frantically searching the darkness for Reef, desperately hoping it was him who would find me first.
Movement in the distance caught my attention as I stared ahead, petrified of what I saw. A Great White quickly beganto swim close, circling me.You’re not Reef.My heart raced, panicking as I tried to escape the rope.
The shark leered, sizing me up. I wiggled my arms behind my back, my lungs burning for air as I became frantic.Shit. The shark brushed past me before it turned around and began to swim straight for me.Shit. Shit. Shit!I screamed through the water as the Great White opened its jaws—only for something bigger to attack it.
Blood clouded the water. Reef had the Great White clasped within his jaws, shaking his head as he bit down, the crunch of the large fish’s body vibrating through the darkness. He continued to thrash and fight the smaller shark until it fell limp in his mouth.
Reef released the giant carcass and swam back around, aiming for me. My vision started to blur as I began to lose consciousness, fading away. I could feel him snapping the rope and dragging my body, but everything turned black.Reef.
